ryedalema

Can anyone recommend a good party venue for a birthday party in December? We're thinking about Gambado (have a four year old too so that would work well for ther older kids too) but it's a way away and a bit old for our littlest. Can anyone recommend anything good that might be available in the Christmas party season? xxxx

I put this in the classifieds but think it's probably better here - sorry FRM!!! :) ______________________ Does anyone know if there are any 'leave the child there' activities that run in half terms and holidays around here? Am only just starting to explore this so apologies if it's obvious and I'm clueless :) It's for our 4 year old #1 daughter who is at Goodrich reception (don't know if that's relevant). My OH and I work f/t which wasn't a problem at nursery - but we sort of need to try and find a daytime solution for at least a couple of days (during half term) and a couple of days per week during holidays.. Really love your help with this xxx

Absolutely on the naked front! Didn't even realise I was until afterwards :) It's too blinking hot giving birth - I couldn't stand having anything making me hotter! I was embarrassingly ill-equipped for daughter #2. The combination of her being early and us expecting a home birth only to have a last minute hospital dash meant I'd packed a woeful hospital bag. No nappies...oops! So on the way out (of Kings) I was wearing: - OH's boxers (second hand - mmmmm!) - Two hospital gowns, one forward one back - Bare feet (it was during the snow in December too) - OH's big winter coat.. Moral of story - it doesn't matter a jot what you wear (as long as the baby is clothed - oops). You can cobble together most things from a hospital and visitors. (They probably won't let me in again though - ha ha!)

Spray any perfume on them - they stop itching straight away. Or take an antihistamine x Oh and longer term - plant citronella in your garden. We've got loads as 'them b*ggers lurve me!' works really well and smells nice too. Let me know if you want a cutting xx

You can stroke your b**bs in a downwards motion in a really hot bath (as hot as you can stand)...it doesn't prolong the milk supply, but gives you a bit of relief. Also - echoing the cabbage leaf straight from the fridge/freezer thing - that's quite good. Mine only lasted a couple of days too and I went cold turkey from full-on bfing to nought. Good luck with it - and don't forget, now you're not bfing - you can take meds!!! xx

I feel very old - I'm struggling to understand this :) (by 'this' I mean her).

Inkmaiden Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Pollypops- are you sure it's the little tescos on > East Dulwich Road and not the one on Rye Lane? The one on East Dulwich Road I'm afraid - it's on the BBC website.

alethea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seriously not great, our house is stinking of > smoke from the fire, lots of people milling around > to top it off some guy on a car said to get my 3rd > old in the house quick followed by only joking > some joke. Ugh - do you want to come to ours hon? We can put you up! x

Can anyone assess/advise - is the atmos getting worse or are things calming down in Peckham? It's not even dark yet!

Very embarrassed/ashamed/cross that I had to say this this morning: 'do not spit on my dress!' Big C was straight in the naughty corner for that one this morning! Grrrrr.

Heyyyyy - congratulations! And a VERY healthy weight! Well done you! Welcome to the world little (or not so) Alexa Ruby. May you give your parents and brother no end of joy! xxxxx

A home cooked meal that's eaten with no arguments/moans Being sent to the naughty corner myself! Being offered 'a mummy's drink' by #1 daughter (holding the Smirnoff bottle!) :-$ Two x daughters getting a hairwash without screams of 'it's in my eyes, it's in my eyes!!' Sewing badges on leotards.. Being so proud I cry (umm almost every day) Putting away a mountain of washing - and only one pair of tights is mine! Finishing the weekend exhausted, and covered in fairy dust. Finishing the weekend with no money in my purse - and pretty sure I've not spent anything on myself! Knowing the words to Postman Pat (and not the rude version) Sucky-inny knickers (sorry TMI), but we all wear them - don't we?? :) xxx

Ahhh - how much later at weekends? Am feeling like a big meanie now (wah..ha..ha...hahhhh) :))

Mmmm - I know.. I've got a neighbour whose 3 year old goes to bed at 9pm! And a friend whose baby goes to bed at 10pm! I know it's incredibly subjective, but hope we are doing ok by the girls (and for us) with those bedtimes. Am dead jealous of the 7am rising - even the combo of the green light clock (our equivalent of the rabbit clock) and black out blind and blackout curtains and double sided sticky tape sticking the blinds to the windows - aren't getting us that far!!

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere, but couldn't find it at a quick search.. What time do you send your little ones upstairs to the land of Nod? I've heard so many variations I don't know whether we're being over ambitious or not: - our 18 month old goes to bed at 6.30pm (then gets up at 6am -ish) - our 4 year old goes to bed at 7pm (and isn't allowed to get up before the clock at 6.30am). What do you do? I always remember watching Angels and then being sent straight to bed after that - gosh, I think that was at about 7.30 or something.... (wistful sigh....).

Oh noooo - now I'm completely naive about this (and all things educational really), but what does this mean (if anything) for the school? And (being self-interested) for the new intake in September? Do they just get a locum in, or does it mean a greater meltdown/special measures type scenario? As you can see COMPLETELY clueless!

I can see the benefit of having one if you live in a flat, but we just use nappy bags and put them straight outside in the big bin (poor bin men). I know they are hygienic and all but I'm not sure i'd like the thought of having that much poo (sorry TMI) inside the home, locked away and smell-free or not :)

I do loads of cakes - it's fab me time for me... I buy all my stuff off Amazon. I just did a Batman cake that used a load of black icing - just put 'black sugar paste' into Amazon and you'll get plenty of option. I'd buy two blocks - they aren't very expensive and it's a nightmare if you run out. Not quite sure what you are doing with the rice paper so can't advise. I always just draw on cardboard and cut around them. Rolling out is simple - use icing sugar to eliminate 'stick'. It'll brush off fine afterwards - even with black. If you want I can go into loads more detail...it's not difficult though - but the tricks in preparing the cake and buttercreaming it before you put the icing on. Good luck xx

We send our eldest (4) out into the garden for time out if she's been really bad. But not for anything like 10 minutes. If anything it's a real quick shock for her and she instantly repents and says sorry (and then of course we invite her in for cuddles and a chat about what just happened). It doesn't happen often (and never in bad weather), but I don't see it as lazy parenting or putting our child in jeopardy - it's another discipline technique. I'd much rather do something like that than smack!!

Our 18 month old is doing that too. We've started putting her in the naughty corner. I know I know - it's much too early for all of that. But she stays there, and gets a bit of time out. She doesn't get overly distressed by it and it's sending the message to our older daughter that the littlest isn't getting preferential treatment. It seems to be working though.. at least in part. Oh and cut their nails - very regularly! On the reasons for it - it's just an observation but our eldest got more stroppy just before she started talking. I think it's the frustration of wanting to communicate but not quite being able to. Just a thought - and it does go. Good luck xx

PADI - Sorry! But I'm also a mixed air fan! I spent three months in Koh Tao (small island off Thailand) about ten years ago getting my instructor's licence. I didn't want to come back but finances (and my inability to speak any languages well, apart from English, Corporate-speak and now toddler) meant my dream remained just that..... Another big sigh... I'm fulfilled honestly, but Nemo still makes me blub (and it's nothing to do with him losing his dad)..:-S

Ha ha - I'm a diving instructor too! Well was. Haven't been in the water since b4 i got married. We were supposed to be following the whale sharks around Christmas Island on our honeymoon, but I found out that daughter #1 was brewing 2 days before the wedding..... big sigh! Hope I get there sometime! How many years until University? :)

We never had a cot with #2 either. Just a nest on the floor as I ended up dropping #1 the last couple of inches and waking her each night (as I'm a short a**e and couldn't reach over far enough). Now littlest is 18 months and biggest is 4 and they play together in their room until 'the clock goes green', at 6.30. It took a couple of stern weeks, but that was all and now they know the rules - no stair gates (although I contemplated it). It's the sleeping bag thing though - if she's in that she knows she's supposed to be in her room and 'nest', free her from it and she runs round like an eeyjit. Not sure to transition out of the sleeping bag - hmmmm.

I don't get a chance to get near most food (especially mushrooms and tomberries) with either of our little madams!But I do hide the remains of food that didn't go down too well at the bottom of the bin (ugh soggy) especially if my OH cooked it "mmmm rhubarb and bean risotto went down really well again dear!!" Hoowever - party bags, we still have some from before Christmas that haven't been consumed - especially parma violets! yuccckkkk! As for party presents - we eeek these out over months, so that they actually appreciate each one. Think it's darn sensible that one :)

Oh and you don't have to put sunglasses on to go into your daughters' 'princess' bedroom And, you don't find: -'drawings' on your spreadsheets - Dummies, leftover food in your briefcase - knickers/tights/dress and top all in one peelable lump in the washing basket, if it gets that far) And to avoid sulks/tantrums, food (real food!) doesn't have to be pink and covered in sprinkles. And you don't step on, or get given tissues/wipes/knickers with the soggy side up.....ewwww. Boy - I could go on and on and on here :)